Digital Tools in Agriculture Production

Agriculture remains the main economic sector in low-income countries,

especially in rural areas, even as the number of lives and jobs it supports falls as economies the gradual climate change conditions such as drought increases. The main contributor to global warming is carbon dioxide. While the majority of agriculture activities give off carbon dioxide, the sector primarily emits CH4 and N2O. Digital technology has enormous potential to improve agriculture production, and consume low-carbon, resilient, and nutritious food around the world. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance of digital tools in agriculture. It will give a brief overview of the digital tools that are currently being used in the field by farmers and innovation for attempting to implement digital tools in the sector. Using digital tools can reduce emits of CH4 and N2O,  crop loss, increase yields, improve cost-effectiveness in production,  and increase income among vulnerable populations.

Major parts of the rural economies and social activities (health and education) of the Republic of Zambia are directly sensitive to climate change, including agriculture, forestry, water resources, energy, and fisheries. The effects of gradual climate changes and extreme weather events in the recent past have undermined progress in the alleviation of poverty and food insecurity, while also having a negative effect on education, health and the overall development efforts. However, in this context poverty means more than simply low income. It includes lack of alternative capacity in determining what goes on in one’s community, as well as vulnerable livelihoods. Food insecurity, malnutrition, climate change and school drop outs are often a reality of poverty. Smallholder farmers in Zambia are stuck in a poverty trap and climate cycle. They cultivate their lands and trees in a traditional for charcoal, but inefficient way that destroys soil and forests. The constraints faced by the  Indigenous people live in the rural areas are quiet many and they experience poor quality of life. To address factors contributing to high poverty and greenhouses gasses, requires the application of digital technologies that play an important role in the lives of millions of individuals living.

As economies develop, agricultural productivity rises, at the same time challenges facing farmers in to control emitting of CH4 and N2O are many, innovations and digital platforms play an important part in raising productivity. The rise of digital agriculture could be the most transformation and disruptive of all the industries, because digital agriculture not only will change how farmers farm their farms, but also will transform

fundamentally every part of the agrifood value chain. Digital technologies increasingly used in development accelerate the speed and volume of data collection and sharing, amplifying both potential benefits and harms to individuals and communities. Today's agriculture routinely uses sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems allow businesses to be more profitable, efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. However, we need to construct a lifetime market-based water reticulation systems and installation of supporting facilities (commercial boreholes, submissive water solar water pumps, rainwater harvesting tanks, poly pipes and training block). To develop sustainable and competitive markets, jobs and production patterns for the rural communities. In addition, training farmers in the best farming techniques has been shown to raise

productivity.

Poverty is highly visible in most rural communities, Isolated households are major concentrations of the people living in community with limited capacity to adapt and mitigate climate change conditions. In the same way, economic sectors that largely depend on weather conditions – either directly or indirectly – most notably agriculture and fisheries are increasingly subject to the impacts of climate change. Moreover, the depletion of natural resources, as a result of increased environmental and demographic pressures, tends to aggravate the severity of climate change impacts. As a consequence, the incidence, depth and persistence of poverty, food insecurity, droughts and environmental degradation  will increase. Digital and innovation expansion improve the exchange of information, hence increasing their capacity. 

At times, this has been combined with increasing access to finance or the inputs required for agriculture as an impetus for improving agricultural productivity. Providing cooperatives with resources improves linkages between agribusinesses along the value chain. One way is to activate social ties in villages to encourage peer learning.  Agricultural extension services can be improved through low-cost videos that leverage the knowledge and participation of local communities. Detailed information enables farmers

to decide how much fertilizer, solar energy and irrigation are appropriate. 

Since the establishment of the Foundation in 2017,  the project the has been estimated that project will reach a total of 14, 000 smallholder farmers through training workshop on irrigation, fish farming, and will provide access to irrigated land and fish ponds for some 1800 farm families in selected sites improving agriculture service provisions to smallholder farmers.

Mobile technology can reduce the administrative and assessment
costs of access to input suppliers and products buyers. For farmers to profit from increased agricultural productivity, they need access to markets, both at home and abroad, and expanding agricultural productivity in rural areas

The Future Community Foundation was first introduced by the students of the University of Zambia in 2017, in order to meet the various socio-economic development and basic humanitarian needs in rural communities. However, the organization facilitates grassroots development and basic humanitarian projects to develop innovative products, services and business models that can contribute to the fight against poverty and climate change, with a specific focus on the inclusion and empowerment of women and youth. Under this program, some important social services and facilities such as entrepreneurship training facilities, agricultural boreholes, fish ponds and poultry (broilers, layers) have been set up.

In Zambia, 60 percent of people live below the poverty line and 42 percent are classified as extremely poor. Poverty rates are highest for female-headed households, with extreme poverty levels of more than 60 percent in rural areas and 15 percent in urban areas. The effects of poverty are seen in children’s development. Around 15 percent of children in Zambia are underweight, and 40 percent are stunted. Poverty is worst in rural Zambia, where 83 percent of people live below the poverty line.

Project areas in which our organization is most active include Crop Farming, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forestry and Livestock. The specific activities in which our organization is most active involve Agriculture, Food Processing, Wholesale and Food Distribution, Food Services, Project Development and Deployment, Investment, Research and Development.  In Zambia, 60 percent of people live below the poverty line and 42 percent are classified as extremely poor. 

The Future Community Foundation provides non-reimbursable funding and technical guidance to village groups with 10 people per group, each group consisting of 50% women, 30% youth and 20% men that engage in agriculture projects as innovators, entrepreneurs, producers, consumers, or distributors. The agriculture sector is a real catalyst for low-income people to lift themselves out of poverty through new innovations to expand markets and job opportunities, increased income, and access to basic goods and services. Simultaneously low-income markets represent a large business opportunity. FCF supports the development of skills, construction of livestock and aquaculture facilities, and installation of water reticulation systems to increase labor, supplier and distribution channels that can support expanded production and market supply. This offers significant scope for Inclusive Business initiatives to make a positive impact on low-income people’s quality of life. Poverty is a multi-dimensional concept. Improving access to the labor market in the informal economy, or agriculture increases income and strengthens social networks. Such access can constitute a powerful tool for poverty reduction. Learning vocational skills helps to ensure food security and rural development, both of which are important when fighting poverty. Skills development strategies must look not only at households but also in communities.

Production: Currently farmers choose crops on the basis of the trends of the last season. Technology can assist them in making right growing choices by carefully analyzing demand, pricing and fluctuations in weather conditions. This will create a better balance between supply and demand.

In Zambia, the studies analysis indicated from a market perspective two high potential value chains in agribusiness are poultry and aquaculture. With more than 50 percent of workers and over 80 percent of poor Zambians recording themselves in agriculture in the 2015 population census, raising productivity is a determinant of prosperity for the rural poor. Yet small scale producers and modern commercial operations operate in parallel, as smallholders typically use backward production systems with scant capitalization. Zambia’s challenge is to overcome the persistent duality between low productivity smallholder agriculture and high productivity modern agribusiness firms. That will enable the agribusiness sector to meet the growing urban demand for food products and the potential for food exports while connecting more people to jobs. Poverty means more than simply low income. It includes a lack of participation in determining what goes on in one’s community, as well as vulnerable livelihoods. Food insecurity is often a reality of poverty. Firstly, we present the economic value of specific project areas such as poultry, aquaculture, and honey, then we encourage people to form clubs/groups of 50% women, 30% youths and 20% men and select their interested project finally we allocate resources according to their needs.

Modern farms and agricultural operations work far differently than those a few decades ago, primarily because of advancements in technology, including sensors, devices, machines, and information technology. Today’s agriculture routinely uses sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. 

Our technical team direct engages with beneficiaries to think innovatively, we develop business ideas that solve social, economic and environmental issues, while at the same time maximizing their competitiveness and profitability. Many of these initiatives are not realized due to perceived commercial, technical or financial risk. By functioning as a risk-sharing mechanism, FCF aims to stimulate the development of innovative Inclusive Business ideas that otherwise would not have taken place on a commercial basis within the agriculture sector in rural areas. Under this program, these businesses include honey production, aquaculture, poultry business both broilers and egg layers, goat and piggery.

Skills development and provision of value-adding facilities contributes to social and economic integration. Ensuring that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through equitable access to appropriate learning and life skills programs. At the same time providing facilities and training in technical know-how plays an important role in equipping young people and adults with the skills required for work and social integration. In many transition economies, the informal sector is growing. This movement can be seen as a form of impoverishment, although it represents an important dimension of the economy by providing employment and generating income.

Farmers no longer have to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides uniformly across entire fields. Instead, they can use the minimum quantities required and target very specific areas, or even treat individual plants differently. Benefits include:

• Higher crop productivity
• Decreased  use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, which in turn keeps food prices down
• Reduced impact on natural ecosystems
• Less runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater
• Increased worker safety

In addition, robotic technologies enable more reliable monitoring and management of natural resources, such as air and water quality. It also gives producers greater control over plant and animal production, processing, distribution, and storage, which results in:

• Greater efficiencies and lower prices
• Safer growing conditions and safer foods
• Reduced environmental and ecological impact

The primary objective of our project is to develop human capacities by engaging indigenous people to participate in the process of poverty reduction and mitigating climate change. 

Zambia’s food crisis situation is highly associated with the effects of climate change such as frequent droughts, extreme temperatures, and dry spells. Thus, providing aquaculture, poultry, honey, and irrigation facilities improves agricultural productivity to meet both commercial and domestic uses that are critical for achieving food security and improved nutrition for rural livelihoods. By increasing the productivity, income generation and strengthens social networks. Reduced food insecurity and malnutrition are a reality of poverty-reduction.

The poultry is characterized by a dichotomy of traditional and modern production and marketing systems, large commercial farms optimize margins through economies of scale, up-to-date technologies, and high-yield farming practices. The aquaculture sector has a large demand gap that is currently filled by imports, despite Zambia’s abundance of water resources.  Ultimately, increasing the productivity and competitiveness of smallholder agriculture requires the development of a supporting “ecosystem” of infrastructure, input and technical assistance. The jobs agenda in the aquaculture sector will need to focus on enhancing smallholder productivity.

 Ultimately, access to poultry, aquaculture, irrigation, and honey production is also deeply linked to poverty reduction, health improvement, nutrition outcomes, and land distribution to protect the environment.Given that poultry, aquaculture, honey production, and irrigated agriculture are, on average, at least twice to thrice as productive per unit of land, this provides an important buffer against increasing climate variability, and allows for more secure income generation, agricultural diversification, less charcoal burning, it is certain that above practices will continue to play a key role in ensuring global food and nutrition security.

We are aiming to construct conceptualized frameworks that link final equitable growth outcomes with twin achievements in human capabilities and market opportunities, with appropriate institutions and public policies linking the different components of the framework to ensure social inclusion in the world. To achieve this, we are geared to working with the rural communities to provide a platform for tackling challenges contributing to inter generation poverty issues (climate change, lower productivity, lack of industrial capacity, urban migration). In five years’, time, this project aims to empower three million women, two million youths and one million men based in Rural Communities, in particular people living in poverty. A large number of poor people live in rural areas and they experience poor quality of life. It is estimated that by 2025, 65 percent of future growth in rural productivity will reduce due to urban migration, climate change, and technology disruptions. These trends are resulting in unprecedented demands for capital, service quality and innovation. Rural areas will, therefore, need to be thoughtful to promote resilient infrastructure and strategies that can meet the growing demand for modern services in evolving technological advancements and environmental changes all within limited budgets. Our project areas remain in agriculture.

Everywhere in the world, small agricultural producers are entrepreneurs, traders, investors, and consumers, all rolled into one. In all these roles, small agricultural households constantly seek to use available financial instruments to improve their productivity and secure the best possible consumption and investment choices for their families. But the package of financial services available to small farmers in developing countries is severely limited, especially for those living in remote areas with no access to basic market infrastructure. When poor people have limited saving or borrowing options, their investment plans are stifled and it becomes harder for them to break out of poverty. If households have no access to insurance and are unable to accumulate small savings that enable them to pay for household and business expenses, especially during lean seasons, they are forced to limit their exposure to risk, even if high returns are expected, once again making the pathway out of poverty more arduous than necessary. Inadequate access to financial services is thus part of what is often called the “poverty trap.” We propose that farmers should have access to financial services in order to construct fish ponds and poultry blocks for both layers and broilers, boreholes, solar panels

In Sab-Saharan African countries, most of the rural communities are facing numerous challenges including food insecurity, undernutrition, chronic poverty, and natural disasters. Unpredictable weather patterns have affected communities over the last decade. Farmers rely heavily on seasonal rains and subsistence-style farming. The climates are favorable for growing a range of crops including maize, cotton, tobacco, and groundnuts. Many people are now practicing charcoal burning to raise income to buy food. Our team is actively working with the policymakers and chiefs to engage indigenous territories in smart and cost-effective agriculture, this has increased community participation and attain gradual benefits across sectors. 

Our team provides waters reticulation systems such as commercial boreholes, deep tanks, and fish ponds. We encourage people to use solar panels for irrigation and agriculture farm production. We also provide nutrition lessons to pregnant and breastfeeding women.  

 Our team constructs conceptualized frameworks that link final equitable growth outcomes with twin achievements in human capabilities and market opportunities, with appropriate institutions and public policies linking the different components of the framework to ensure social inclusion in Zambia. We design matching grants and innovation funds to assist women associations and farmer groups (also matching grants/innovation funds for companies willing to invest in facilities for the common good, e.g., training centers, demonstration farms or research facilities). In addition, we conduct demonstrations in rural communities to small-scale farmers organized around lead farmers of local farming groups (facilitated by sector associations).

We offer support to people living in poverty through entrepreneurship training and mentor-ship, social-economic research and analysis, and technical assistance to boast productivity levels. Our analytical work often helps inform poor households’ own investments. In addition, we support capacity development in the communities we serve. Our organisation aims to meet the various socio-economic development and basic humanitarian needs in rural communities such as water, food, solar energy, entrepreneurship skills and technological know-how. The primary objective of this project is to develop human capacities by engaging indigenous people to participate in the process of poverty reduction and mitigating climate change.

The Future Community Foundation was established on 15th January, 2017, it operates as a non-profit making grassroots Non-Government Organisation registered by the Republic Government of Zambia. However, the Foundation has the mandate to implement community development across Zambia both at National and Grassroots Level. The Future Community Foundation is headquartered in Lusaka and we have more than 51 employees in more than 3 offices across the country. Since the establishment of the Foundation in 2017, we undertook the needed research and proposed to implement our projects in Mumbwa, Shibuyunji and Monze Districts. 

The Future Community Foundation identified a strategy of working with the Chiefs in their Chiefdom, down to the villages and then household, this would be the best strategy to involve the community in fighting against poverty. The Foundation launched a special programme in Universities/colleges encouraging young graduates to work in rural communities for three years, providing technical training to village leaders and farmers. Further, the foundation has repeatedly been launching a participatory Community-based programs to encourage sustainable use of natural resources especially land, water and forestry. In this programme, a group of development researchers regularly visits selected pilot villages to carry out case studies. These efforts have fostered university-community partnerships, strengthened community skills and capacities, and train farmers in new techniques.
The Foundation and the broader community are increasingly shifting focus to equitable economic outcomes. Because traditional input-driven programs often fail to promote inclusive growth. The foundation community participation strategy highlights the need for a more comprehensive systems approach to poverty reduction reforms. This approach is about increasing accountability, transparency, integrity and targeting results as a complement to providing inputs. Through high-quality analytical work, collection and curation of evidence, and practical know-how in these three areas, the foundation is helping its partner villages accelerate their social-economic progress. Most of these activities are performed regularly and substantially in local languages, to include interpretation and translating a variety of global development agendas to match with the local community.The main aim of its establishment is to give power to people to decide and participate.

One of the former University of Zambia Student and intern at the World Bank Group Lusaka office has partnered with fellow graduates and Senior Chief Shakumbila to form an NGO focused on inclusion in vocational education. This is very useful because World Bank assessment have shown that vocation education quality is very poor, especially for the poor segments of the population. The Future Community Foundation Project was established in order to develop live hoods skills and platforms for the people living in poverty.
This Programme has acquired an excellent reputation in the rural areas, in particular Shakumbila Chiefdom because it provides markets-based development support to various households. Since the introduction of this initiative in the community, over 500 villages of about 12, 500 households and approximately 70, 000 people are expected to direct or indirect benefit. Under this programme, some important have been recommended to be the best alternative to provide solutions and these include improving the use of capabilities such as land, water, electricity, specific value addition equipment and so on, these are urgently needed by the rural communities.
One of the tops most problems affecting the Shakumbila community especially during the occurrence of droughts is the inadequacy of human capacities to adapt climate resistance environment. The existing facilities on the farms cannot accommodate the number of urgent needs to assist the victims within the affected area. In rural areas are outlined several typical problems. Low income and employment are among the main problems inherent in the rural areas.

The organization facilitates grassroots development and basic humanitarian projects to develop innovative products, services and business models that can contribute to the fight against poverty and climate change, with a specific focus on the inclusion and empowerment of women and youth. Under this program, some important social services and facilities such as entrepreneurship training facilities, agricultural boreholes, distribution of solar panels, fish ponds and poultry (broilers, layers) have been set up.

We offer support to people living in poverty through entrepreneurship training and mentor-ship, social-economic research and analysis, and technical assistance to boast productivity levels. Our analytical work often helps inform poor households’ own investments. In addition, we support capacity development in the communities we serve. Our organisation aims to meet the various socio-economic development and basic humanitarian needs in rural communities such as water, food, solar energy, entrepreneurship skills and technological know-how. The primary objective of this project is to develop human capacities by engaging indigenous people to participate in the process of poverty reduction and mitigating climate change.

Since the establishment of the Foundation in 2017, we undertook the needed research and proposed to implement our projects in Mumbwa, Shibuyunji and Monze Districts. Thus, the project site for the grants request is for Shibuyunji District and it has been estimated that project will reach a total of 14, 000 smallholder farmers through training workshop on irrigation, fish farming, and will provide access to irrigated land and fish ponds for some 1800 farm families in selected sites.

Zambia’s food crisis situation is highly associated to effects of climate change such as frequent droughts, extreme temperatures and dry spells. The droughts have increased in frequency over the past three decades, and they are costing Zambia an estimated 0.4% in the annual economic growth per year. Thus, providing water for agricultural productivity and domestic uses is critical for achieving food security and improved rural livelihoods. In general, water is basic for achieving progress in rural regions. However, water in agriculture will continue to play a critical role in rural community’s’ food security. Likewise, providing water for agricultural productivity and domestic uses is critical for achieving food security and improved rural livelihoods by increasing the productivity, income generation and strengthens social networks. Such access can constitute a powerful tool for poverty reduction. Skills development, together with other irrigation measures, can certainly constitute a powerful tool for poverty reduction. 

Despite the increase of Donor AID Poverty Relief, Zambia’s national poverty levels and inequality differences have remained stubbornly high especially in rural areas. The poor households often cannot afford the costs of acquiring and sustaining a better life even after receiving some humanitarian assistance.

However, the above constraints have been due to the lack of business capacity building/entrepreneurship training, lack of community participation in the project decision making processes and due to the absence of business enterprise platforms such as electricity, irrigation facilities and value addition machinery. 

This Programme has acquired an excellent reputation in the rural areas, in particular Shakumbila Chiefdom because it provides markets-based development support to various households. Since the introduction of this initiative in the community, over 500 villages of about 12, 500 households and approximately 70, 000 people are expected to direct or indirect benefit. Under this programme, some important have been recommended to be the best alternative to provide solutions and these include improving the use of capabilities such as land, water, electricity, specific value addition equipment and so on, these are urgently needed by the rural communities. The existing facilities on the farms cannot accommodate the number of urgent needs to assist the victims within the affected area. I They emerge in several aspects: problems with the labor force, low labor productivity, lower prices of agricultural products.

The Future Community Foundation is a non-profitable private voluntary grouping of more than thirty students/youths and senior citizens with proven professional experiences from various development topics. The NGO was established to foster Sustainable Development in the rural communities. However, the Foundation consist of community-based development settings focusing on building skills for poverty reduction and boost shared prosperity in the rural areas.
We are working with the community to provide a platform for tackling challenges contributing to inter-generation poverty issues (climate change, lower productivity, lack of industrial capacity, urban migration). 
Villages cannot do this alone; private sector finance, knowledge and innovation will need to be leveraged to address rural development challenges. However, as a community development Non-Government Organization, Future Community Foundation is well positioned to support villages to access to relevant information about poverty reduction solutions. Social and Economic investment aspects are the central points to achieving the poverty reduction. it is a reliable route out of poverty because it has large and consistent returns to income for individuals and because it can drive economic growth. It is also a prime vehicle for promoting share prosperity. To this end we work with the local poor themselves and international partners who share the vision to create just and peaceful societies where communities can exercise their fundamental rights.

As highlighted in the Zambia Long-term Development Vision of becoming a middle-income country by 2030, business skills development and value addition enterprises has been identified a priority area of the Foundation’s work in the community by building human capacities to allow good practice in enterprise and innovations, with participation of villagers. The primary objective of this project is to the human capacities to match the markets and job opportunities.   There have been less market-based economic activities with little diversification and value addition to the harvested resources due to the lack of factory industries.
On a different note, climate change related issues such as frequent droughts have resulted to be among the serious problems like food crisis and zero income generation activities for the people living in the rural areas who mostly depend on seasonal rainfall agriculture and traditional livestock layering. The UN Sustainable Development Agenda, adopted in September 2015, confirms the role of economic growth and inclusion strategies in fighting poverty, tackling climate change, and encouraging environmental protection. At the same time, the Future Community Foundation seek to ensure that it builds skills for poverty reduction and promote sustainable development at the grassroot level. The recommended alternatives to promote sustainable market-based rural development highlights the following: entrepreneurship trainings, value addition enterprises, capacity building in specific capabilities such as solar electricity, rain water check dams, irrigation facilities, fruit tree plantations, food, wood and wool processing machineries.

Major parts of the rural economies and social activities (health and education) of the Republic of Zambia are directly sensitive to climate change, including agriculture, forestry, water resources, energy, and fisheries. The effects of gradual climate changes and extreme weather events in the recent past have undermined progress in the alleviation of poverty and food insecurity, while also having a negative effect on education, health and the overall development efforts. However, in this context poverty means more than simply low income. It includes lack of alternative capacity in determining what goes on in one’s community, as well as vulnerable livelihoods. Food insecurity, malnutrition and school drop outs are often a reality of poverty. Smallholder farmers in Zambia are stuck in a poverty trap. They cultivate their lands and trees in a traditional for charcoal, but inefficient way that destroys soil and forests. A whole set of measures would be necessary to improve matters.
Correspondingly, agriculture is the livelihood of nearly 90% of the rural population and improving agricultural productivity, investing in agribusinesses and developing facilities and markets is essential to poverty reduction in Zambia.The Future Community Foundation has increasingly recognized the importance of market-based rural development through entrepreneurship training and value addition enterprises in the rural areas, not only to improve individual competitiveness, and therefore, contribute to economic growth, but also as the main source of job creation and fundamental factor for poverty reduction.

Everywhere in the world, small agricultural producers are entrepreneurs, traders, investors, and consumers, all rolled into one. In all these roles, small agricultural households constantly seek to use available financial instruments to improve their productivity and secure the best possible consumption and investment choices for their families. But the package of financial services available to small farmers in developing countries is severely limited, especially for those living in remote areas with no access to basic market infrastructure. When poor people have limited saving or borrowing options, their investment plans are stifled and it becomes harder for them to break out of poverty. If households have no access to insurance and are unable to accumulate small savings that enable them to pay for household and business expenses, especially during lean seasons, they are forced to limit their exposure to risk, even if high returns are expected, once again making the pathway out of poverty more arduous than necessary. Inadequate access to financial services is thus part of what is often called the “poverty trap.”